Bypassing the BJP-ruled municipal corporations, the Delhi government has decided to allow registration of property in 895 unauthorised colonies that were recently regularised.

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While the decision spells cheer for those living in such colonies, it could prove a headache for the municipal corporations.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said once the government sends the boundary details of these colonies for layout plan to corporations, it will also allow registry of property. These registries, sources said, will open up channels of revenue for the government.

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But sources said what the AAP government is essentially doing is take credit for the work done by the previous Congress government. “All boundaries of the 895 colonies were submitted to corporations by the Congress,” a senior official said.

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In September 2012, after demand for basic infrastructure in unauthorised colonies gained ground, the Delhi government had identified 895 colonies for regularisation. Of these, 312 colonies, which were on private land, were notified as regularised. The Delhi government sent boundaries of these colonies to corporations for planning and legal approval. But the plans sent by the government did not match the actual position of colonies at the time of regularisation. Only nine colonies got their layout plans passed by the corporations. Even in these colonies, as the government is yet to issue a notification of regularisation, no registry can be done.

The municipal corporations believe that the AAP government’s decision would only create more mess as there would be no check on the veracity of the land being registered.

“People could register parks or roads in absence of a layout plan. The whole idea of a masterplan is to plan the city in a such way that it is safe even in case of a disaster. Corporations can still carry out demolition and sealing drives as these properties would remain illegal despite being registered,” a civic body official said.

“There are three things in the regularisation process. First, is the setting of boundaries, which is a Delhi government task; second, is the layout plan, which is the corporations’ task; and third, is the registry in these colonies,” Sisodia said.

“ For the first task, daily reports will be sought. These colonies have remained unauthorised because of poor planning. Once we finalise the boundaries, we will not wait for corporation to finalise the layout plan, we will open registries in these colonies. For properties that are booked by corporations, registry will start on April 1,” Sisodia said.

When asked what happens if the corporations do not pass layout plans, Sisodia said, “By the time the work of these layout takes place in corporations, we will come in MCDs too. Why do you need a layout plan? It is only needed to get the registry done. The decision is to be taken by the government.”